Archive for January 28th, 2011

Every February, a variety of Tucson-area festivals and celebrations fill the calendar. From a massive gem show to a cowboy poetry gathering, there are events that appeal to every schedule and set of interests.

Here’s a sampling of events taking place during the first half of February:

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase

Jan. 29-Feb. 13

The largest gem and mineral show in the United States will take place Jan. 29 to Feb. 13 at more than 40 locations around Tucson. Most exhibits do not charge admission and are open to the public.

The biggest event, the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, will be Feb. 10-13 at the Tucson Convention Center.

The event showcases museum and private collections, and features more than 250 booth displays by mineral, gemstone, jewelry and fossil retailers.

A free 6 p.m. walking tour of the Warehouse Arts District near downtown Tucson offers chances to view photography, painting, glassworks and sculpture. Area galleries will hold receptions during the event. For details, visit ctgatucson.org.

Tubac Festival of the Arts

Feb. 9-13

The 52nd annual Festival of the Arts will bring hundreds of artists, crafters and musicians to Tubac Feb. 9-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Activities include horse-drawn trolleys, roving entertainment and a food court.

Tubac, an artist community located south of Tucson off Interstate-19, started its festival in 1959. For additional information, visit tubacaz.com.

Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering

Feb. 11-13

In a celebration of cowboy culture, Western poets and musicians will perform Feb. 11-13 at the Buena Performing Arts Center in Sierra Vista. Visitors can meet the performers during informal sessions on Saturday.

Tickets are required for the Friday and Saturday headliner performances, but performances following the headliners are free.

It’s 2011 and a new year means new concerts. Here’s a sampling of top concerts coming to the Tucson/Phoenix area:

Feb. 10 – Plain White T’s

The Plain White T’s will perform at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe at 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 – Snoop Dog

Snoop Dog will perform with special guest Pilot at the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St., at 8 p.m.

Feb. 22 – 311

311 will perform with Katastro at the Marquee Theater in Tempe at 6:30 p.m.

March 11 – Disturbed, Korn

The Tucson Convention Center Arena will host the Music as a Weapon Tour with co-headliners Disturbed and Korn. Also performing on the tour are Sevendust, In This Moment and Stillwell. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or the TCC box office.

March 22 – The Ready Set

The Glamour Tour, which stops by The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Headliners The Ready Set will perform with All Star Weekend, The Downtown Fiction, We Are the In Crowd and You Me and Everyone We Know.

March 26 – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga will perform at the US Airways Center in Phoenix.

March 27 – Senses Fail

The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave., will play host to the PMA Tour, which features Senses Fail as its headlining band. Also on the tour are The Ghost Inside, Man Overboard and Transit. Doors open at 6 p.m., so get there early.

April 1 – A Rocket to the Moon

A Rocket to the Moon’s On Your Side Tour, will come to The Rock. Also on the tour are Anarbor, Valencia, Runner Runner and Go Radio. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

April 15-24 – Pima County Fair

The Pima County Fair, 11300 Houghton Road, will host artists ranging from Cheap Trick to Boyz II Men this year. Dates and bands include:

April 15: Anberlin, 8 p.m.

April 16: Cheap Trick, 8 p.m.

April 17: Boyz II Men, 7:30 p.m.

April 20: Foghat, 7:30 p.m.

April 22: Neon Trees, 8 p.m.

April 23: Easton Corbin, 8 p.m.

April 24: Los Tigres del Norte, 7:30 p.m.

The concerts are included with the $8 fair admission. Parking costs $5. Details: pimacountyfair.com.

April 16 – Club Crawl

Last, but not least, is Tucson’s biggest event: Club Crawl. The popular event features 25 stages of live music all over downtown Tucson and along Fourth Avenue.

Editor’s note: Many people choose to watch a movie because it has a cool-looking poster or is heavily advertised. This feature hopes to bring attention to films that were passed over simply because people never knew of their existence.

By DARCY ARIZMENDI

aztecpress@pima.edu

“Buried” is an intense thriller that does not rely on the special effects or pretentious set-up found in most big Hollywood players. Instead we are treated in the first scene of “Buried” to a black screen and heavy breathing.

We soon realize the man (Ryan Reynolds) is trapped in a coffin, struggling to escape before running out of oxygen.

As the film moves along, we learn that the character’s name is Paul Conroy. He’s an American truck driver who took the wrong job by being in Iraq.

At least the people who put him there were nice enough to leave service items at his disposal. When Paul wakes, he discovers he has been given a cell phone, knife, glow sticks, flask and a second-rate flashlight.

Following basic logic, Paul tries the cell phone first but finds it difficult to use since all of the menus are in Arabic. This is one of many hurdles he faces while stuck in the wooden death trap.

Without going into spoilers, the entire movie takes place in the coffin. There’s no outside view, no other actors on screen. It plays out close to real time.

“Buried” truly is a one-of-a-kind gem that takes tension in film to whole new level. It does not deserve to stay underground. Check this one out today!